Week 7: Ethics & engineering (Ethical Analysis Tools)

Question 1

What is Utilitarianism?

Answer 1

Bentham (1789) - “An introduction to the principles of
morals and legislation”
▸ Maximisation of benefit (happiness)
▸ Everyone is equal (humans)
▸ Ethics depends on outcome (not intent)
▸ Action/inaction is just as bad/good

Question 2

What is Deontology?

Answer 2

▸ Kant (1785) - “Groundwork for the metaphysics of morals”
▸ Categorical imperative
▸ …always act according to principles that you would be willing for
everyone to follow…
▸ Moral duties (non-negotiable)
▸ Independent of the outcome

Question 3

What is Comparative approach?

Answer 3

▸ Nilstun (1994) - “Research ethics in care and medicine”
[Forskningsetik i vård och medicin]
▸ Autonomy - right to self-determination
▸ Benefit - positive and negative consequences
▸ Justice - distribution of benefit and burden

Question 4

What are the three roles in ETHICAL RISK ANALYSIS (ERA)?

Answer 4

Beneficiary, Decision Maker, and Risk-exposed

Question 5

What is the problem of Risk-exposed and Beneficiary?

Answer 5

If the same stakeholder,
▸ Often unproblematic…
▸ As long as all stakeholders are identified.

However, If different stakeholders,
▸ Often problematic
▸ Links to unjust distribution of risk (common in society).

Question 6

What are the Common mitigation strategies for the relationship between the Decision-maker and Beneficiary?

Answer 6

▸ The decision maker pays for the risk
▸ Decision maker controlled by other decision-makers

Question 7

What are the 6 steps of an ETA?

Answer 7

1. Identify stakeholder perspectives
2. Seek factual information
3. Compare to similar situations (analogy)
4. Explore ethical theories
5. Construct new solutions
6. Explore practical implementation